Physical Therapy​Sports Injuries

Most Common Sports Injuries

SprainsA sprain is an injury to a ligament, one of the bands of fibrous tissue that connects a bone to another bone at a joint and prevents excessive movement of a joint. An ankle sprain is the most common sports injuries in young athletes but sprains can also happen at the knee, shoulder, elbow, fingers, and toes. A sprain can lead to excessive movement of that joint and cause instability.

StrainsA strain is an injury to a muscle or a tendon, one of the bands of fibrous tissue that connects a muscle to a bone. Common muscles that are strained are the hamstring, quadriceps, calf muscles, muscles in the back, and shoulder, but any muscle in the body can suffer from a strain. A strain to a muscle or tendon can cause pain, dysfunction, and weakness.

Growth Plate InjuriesThe growth plate is the area of developing tissue at the end of the long bones in growing children and adolescents. When growth is complete this area is replaced by solid bone. Because the growth plate of the bone is constantly growing and being replaced by new bone, it is at risk for injury when put under increased stress. Growth plate injuries can cause pain, difficulty with movement, and increased risk of further fracture.

Repetitive Motion Injuries/Overuse InjuriesRepetitive motion injuries such as stress fractures (small fracture of the bone that has been subjected to repeated stress) and tendinitis (inflammation of a tendon) can occur from overuse of muscles and tendons. These injuries happen gradually over time and can be the hardest to heal. An overuse injury can cause pain, dysfunction, and increased risk of sprains, strains, and further injury.

PreventionThere are many ways as parents to help prevent sports injuries in young athletes but most importantly you always need to make sure your child is in proper physical condition to play a sport. Talk with your doctor or physical therapist to obtain a pre-participation physical to screen for potential problems. Make sure that your child always warms up and cools down before and after playing, keep your child hydrated, and avoid playing sports when tired or in pain. Make sure you are listening to your child and their body to avoid overuse.

TreatmentTreatment for sports injuries can vary depending on the injury and what has caused the injury. When your child suffers an injury the first line of defense is to perform RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation).

1. Rest. Let your child rest. Make sure you are listening to where they are hurting and allow for time before returning to the game or practice

3. Compression. If you can see that your child’s injury is starting to swell, you can use an ace wrap around the injury to decrease swelling and inflammation. Make sure to be aware of how tight you are wrapping as to not stop blood flow

4. Elevation. Elevating and injury can also help to reduce inflammation.

If you are concerned about a fracture, tear, or dislocation make sure to head to your doctor or emergency room to get imaging.

What can my physical therapist do to help my child? Throughout the healing phase of an injury it’s a good idea to check in with a physical therapist. A PT can help ease pain, improve alignment, regain strength, and prevent further re-injury. The PT that you are working with will help you and your child feel comfortable returning to sport after injury and make sure that your child is safe and healthy to get back on the field!